Rhythm in the Clouds (1937)

Undescribable Perfection

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

The acting in this movie is really good.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

A struggling songwriter, thrown out "gently" by her landlady (who is kind enough to tell her at 1:00 she doesn't have to rush; the new tenant is moving in at 3:00), manipulates her way into the apartment of an already established composer, pretending to be a relative, and predictable complications happen. The rise to success is spectacularly fast, the "relative" returns, and a fairy godmother (in the guise of a feisty countess) helps her to achieve her dreams. All in the matter of under an hour in this silly but watchable screwball comedy with a few minor songs. Not much to praise here; It's all pretty unbelievable and ordinary, but the game leads (Patricia Ellis and Warren Hull) and some memorable supporting players (particularly the always scene-stealing Zeffie Tilbury as the very American countess and the underrated Esther Howard as the landlady) make this mildly pleasant.

Being a HUGE fan of actress Patricia Ellis I HAD to see this film and tho its meager budget shows from start to finish I enjoyed it nonetheless. The songs are nothing to write home about and leading man Warren Hull is certainly bland but the comedy bits and the fact that the lovely miss Ellis is in nearly the entire picture from start to finish makes it worth a look! Most of the films she made during her earlier days at Warner Bros she is second lead or less and spends precious little time on screen so it was a big treat for me, and she looked great! some of the supporting players are quite good as well. i found this on DVD on ebay for around $3.00 and consider it money well-spent!

Patricia Ellis is cute as struggling songwriter Judy Walker. Thrown out of her cheap apartment, she wrangles a much nicer place using a letter she received from a much more successful songwriter, the letterhead on his stationery, and a bottle of "ink eraser." Basically, she moves into his place while he is out of town.The new apartment is awfully nice—an excellent place to work on her songs. There is, unfortunately, a loud neighbor next door; Judy and the neighbor quickly start a noisy war of banging on each other's walls. For the most part, however, Judy is set. She lounges on the couch drinking champagne, sharing high-toned conversation with her imaginary guests: "Mr. Gershwin, take it easy. Of course I'll help you write your new rhapsody….Mr. Berlin! Irving! Do tell the boys how many copies of our last number we sold....Now, Bob McKay—Let me see those lyrics of yours…." We assume that "Bob McKay" is another well-known songwriter; soon enough we learn that…The guy next door with whom Judy has been fighting through the wall is indeed popular lyricist Bob McKay—a big star and an enthusiastic feuding partner. Naturally, it takes Judy and Bob a good chunk of the picture to discover each other's identities; the scene where they finally make that realization is nicely done and quite funny—it's one of those scenes where you can see it coming but that makes it all the funnier. That scene is typical of the picture as a whole, actually: never especially surprising but pleasantly amusing nevertheless.Warren Hull is pretty good as Bob McKay, the lyricist next door; Hull and Ellis make a nice couple, two attractive people snapping dialog back and forth and gradually getting together. The supporting cast have some decent roles: Richard Carle plays the exasperated head of an advertising agency looking for songs; William Newell is the assistant whose job includes rounding up the talent and getting fired every time Carle is in a bad mood; Zeffie Tilbury is hilarious as "the Duchess de Lovely," whose beauty cream products sponsor the radio program Carle is producing. There's not much to it, but it's easy to look at these beautiful people in their classy outfits and stylish apartments and sparkling radio studio settings. My favorite line: "Does 'resignation' have two g's?" "I don't know, I always get fired."

Not a bad way to spend 53 minutes staring at beautiful people, glamorous gowns and well designed sets, accompanied by lilting tunes. The story isn't too bad, even though the dialog tends to rely too heavily on comedy even when nothing is ready at hand. Patricia Ellis is so-so - rather pretty yet not as glamorous as several other leading B-ladies of the thirties, and a bit too temperate for a screwball comedy. As she only joins in shortly for the last song, it's hard to say anything about her voice. Warren Hull is a good-looking and sexy hunk with very good voice, but there appears to be no sparks flying between the two. Nevertheless, the film flies by very quickly (at 53 minutes - as presented in Classic Musicals 50 movie pack - it should) and keeps your attention well in grasp. Quite enjoyable, even though there is very little actual rhythm and almost no clouds to be seen.